EUROPEAN Farmers have reacted to reports of the imminent finalisation of an EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement by repeating concerns about expanded access for Australian sheep meat and beef.

The united voice of EU farmers and agri-cooperatives Copa-Cogeca has said it still has serious concerns regarding the balance and fairness of the outcome – particularly concerning agriculture.

Last month Copa Cogeca argued that even marginal increases in market access could significantly destabilise EU markets.

Reacting to reports of a possible FTA conclusion, Copa president Massimiliano Giansanti said while recognising the strategic and economic importance of strengthening ties with Australia, it is essential that any agreement reflects a genuinely balanced partnership and the respective size of our markets.

“Our enterprises are currently facing extreme uncertainty, with rising production costs and declining revenues.

“In this challenging context, agriculture cannot once again be treated as a bargaining chip to secure gains in other sectors,” he said.

The Copa-Cogeca release said reports suggesting expanded market access for sensitive agricultural products — including beef, sheep meat and sugar — raise fundamental questions about the direction of the negotiations.

Granting disproportionate concessions in these sectors risks undermining European farmers, distorting markets, and weakening the EU’s long-standing commitment to high production standards and rural sustainability, the organisation said.

Cogeca president Lennart Nilsson said the European Commission must ensure that concessions on sensitive agricultural products are strictly limited, genuinely reciprocal, and aligned with equivalent production standards, while fully accounting for the cumulative impact of trade agreements.

“Any deal must be fair and not come at the expense of the EU’s agricultural sector, rural communities, or long-term food security, a key element of EU’s sovereignty and overall security.”

The Copa-Cogeca release said a truly balanced and credible agreement must safeguard the integrity and resilience of European agriculture, ensuring that farmers and agri-cooperatives are not asked to bear a disproportionate share of the burden.

Australia disadvantaged by current agreements and quotas

Australia–EU Red Meat Market Access Taskforce chair Andrew McDonald last month said Australia’s current country specific beef quota sits at just 3389 tonnes shipped weight (swt). This compares starkly with:

49,500 tonnes cwt secured by Brazil (assuming 50 percent of Mercosur’s 99,000 tonne outcome); and

50,000 tonnes cwt secured via the EU-Canada agreement

“The situation for Australian sheep meat and goat meat is similarly inequitable,” Mr McDonald said.

“New Zealand enjoys 125,769 tonnes of WTO access plus 38,000 tonnes under its FTA. By contrast, Australia is limited to just 5851 tonnes.

“A genuinely trade enhancing FTA must go a long way toward addressing this imbalance by securing at least a minimum of 67,000 tonnes.”

Mr McDonald told Sheep Central recent media reports indicate finalisation of the agreement is imminent.

“I suspect they are just about all the way there and it’s working out where they can announce it – I would suggest that’s the biggest thing in front of them.”

Mr McDonald did not expect any details on EU access volumes for sheep meat or beef would be available until the new agreement is released.

“From all reports a resolution sounds imminent.”

However, the Middle East conflict could have complicated leaders meeting to finalise remaining items needing resolution.

Mr McDonald said the Australian Government has committed to not come back with a worse deal than was already on the table before.

“That would be the only commitment they’ve continued to stick with, I met with Mr Farrell a couple of weeks ago and he’s holding to that.”